When would you go August or October?

[m1ckeymouse]

Hi Everyone

We are about to book for 2013, while the $200 and free QSDP are included, but are not sure about dates. The choices are:

August 20th to Sept 3rd (14nights) at POR - this option is good as there is no need to take DS (7) out of school, it is about £200 cheaper and we will be able to enjoy the water parks (it has to be boiling before I will consider it ). We would also be going to IOA and poss Discover Cove. I have never been at this time of year, so am concerned about the crowds and it being too hot. We usually go November/December or Feb.

or

October half term and the week following (14 nights) POR - this option means taking DS out of school for 4 days (not too much of a problem as far as I am concerned), but means we will be able to do MNSSHP and will also be there for DS 8th birthday. As he is getting older I am not so keen to pull him out of school, especially as the next time we will be able to afford to go, he will be in middle school, therefore this may be the last time he can go for his birthday when he is young enough to really enjoy it. It is more expensive and means Discovery Cove may not be affordable, I am also concerned about the crowds.

Any feedback and your experiences would be welcome, we need to decide by 20th June!

Thanks so much
Suzanne

 

[chmurf]

MNSSHP + birthday ... I wouldn't hesistate

That's what I'll do in october/november anyway (my bday is on nov. 2nd)

 

[wilma-bride]

August is hot but the crowds shouldn't be too bad as the American kids go back to school mid August and the parks are significantly emptier in the last couple of weeks.

However, by far and away, October is our favourite time of year to visit. The parks will be a little busier than the end of August, however not that noticeably. The weather is still lovely and warm but without the draining humiditiy of summer and the Halloween events at Disney (and Universal for the brave souls) are well worth a visit.

 

[mike the canuck]

October! Halloween there is awesome!

 

[wayneg]

Oct is our favourite month.
We took DS in Oct every year while he was at Junior school, only difference was we went at the end of term incl half term break, preffered he didn't miss the first few days of a new term.

 

[darthtatty]

Although I think August is a great time to go,I think you should go for October.
your son is at an age before all the school work gets more serious.
I would take advantage of this now, then stick to August time as he gets older.

 

[tinkerpea]

Halloween is AMAZING at Disney and the MNSSHP is brilliant!

We have just had to cancel our dates for september due to Dh work leave being cancelled and now have to go from october the 5th onwards I like you have to have the really hot weather before i consider swimming or water parks........

My problem is now that Ive already paid out £3160 for flights and i now have to pay £120pp to chnage the date plus extra flight costs as October is much more money!! We are also now looking at November as the flights are cheaper yet im worried it will be too cold for water parks and swimming.

 

[ChipnDaleRule]

If it was me i would go in October. We have always talked about doing MNSSHP but because of DD heading towards her GCSE years we can't take her our of school anymore,so its August from now on,which is fine.So IMO do October while you can

 

[dixonsontour]

Another October fan.

It's also Food and Wine at epcot. You will be fine for the water parks honesstly.

Surprised October is dearer disney room rates are usually slightly cheaper for october than August.

 

[tinks_1989]

October + MNSSHP + Birthday = no competition

 

[Holstar]

We wanted so badly to go in October - but we're massively restricted by our nieces school dates and work commitments

So, we're doing 23rd of August until the 3rd of September at Walt Disney World, and then a week in a Villa, returning on the 10th of September.... but we're considering flying out a week earlier and doing New York and driving down the East Coast to Disney.

We went for the very end of August because we were told it would be quiet (relatively!) by Disney, and still hot. Fingers crossed!

xxxx

 

[2Tiggies]

We wanted so badly to go in October - but we're massively restricted by our nieces school dates and work commitments

So, we're doing 23rd of August until the 3rd of September at Walt Disney World, and then a week in a Villa, returning on the 10th of September.... but we're considering flying out a week earlier and doing New York and driving down the East Coast to Disney.

We went for the very end of August because we were told it would be quiet (relatively!) by Disney, and still hot. Fingers crossed!

xxxx

If you had been around one more day you could have done the first MNSSHP

 

[queendisney]

yep another vote for October. My fav time is November but would def go for October over August.

 

[Julia Ann]

I would say october also we love this time of year....but i will be having the same dillemma too when we plan to go in 2015 (DD will be 7 nearly 8), my concern is more how she will cope with the jetlag when we return and have to go to back to school, so was considering taking her out for last week of term before summer break then she has the rest of the summer to get back on track, but i havn't looked at the prices yet or the humidity levels.....we have also been end of aug/begin sept due to DH job it wasn't so humid as we thought it would be it kind of tailed off to fresher air a couple of days into it. also the parks will be open later in aug/sept (correct me if i'm wrong) but i'm sure they are and in october the nights will draw in about 5pm if i remember right as they also change the clocks like we do. We did the water parks in oct but 1, cant remember which, was closed for refurb. the weather was up and down, i was in cropped jeans one of the days and had to buy a hoody from magic kingdom one morning...even the salesman said "you won't need it by midday"...he was right but i got a lovely 100yrs celebration hoody out of it

 

[disneyholic family]

October is much nicer, but if you can only go in august, go in august

 

[Disneynutinlondon]

Another vote for October. Having done August I would NEVER go at that time again as the humidity was shocking and really spoilt the holiday for us. These's nothing like a birthday at WDW just make sure to get him one of the "It's my birthday" badges and if he's up for it a birthday cake hat

 

[sharon78]

We have been in same situation, so we went in Oct half term and the week after, the weather was nice and warm bit cool in the water parks when in line for slides. You could tell it was getting cooler the last few days that lead into November. MNSSHP was fantastic the girls at the time were 8 & 6.

We have also been in April half term (Easter) the weather and crowds were about the same, however we did see a little more rain. Epcot flower festival was beautiful.

As the girls are now 15 & 17 we are now looking at summer holidays however we're not sure if to go last two weeks of July or last 2 weeks of Aug! On here people seem to go for end of August/September, is that because of crowds or because the storms are easing by then?
Sorry to but in on your post.

 

[madmumof2]

Wow, looks like everyone is in agreement, is that a first? lol

I'm an October girl as well

 

[stoneyloon]

Another vote for October!
The food and wine festival do it for me.
MNSSHP is pretty good too, the baddies get a night out.

August is too humid, I'd be soaking all day......

 

[m1ckeymouse]

Hi everyone

Thanks so much for your advice, looks like October then
At least that gives us a bit longer to pay for it! As a secondary question, would you all book it as a package now (prob through Virgin Hols), or book the resort and tickets now in order to get the deal and then try for flights 11 months out? We have only ever flown Virgin direct and wouldn't really consider flying indirect, but at the moment it is coming up at £5200 for the 3 of us at POR with QSDP, 14 day tickets and flights, not including IOA or Discovery Cove. This seems so expensive when we went for under £3500 this feb

Any further help greatly appreciated.

P.S Hi Tinkerpea, we live about a mile from you! At least you have an answer now, hope you have a wonderful time when you get to go. Thinking of you.

Thanks all
Suzanne